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Posts Tagged ‘Disaster Declaration’

Thousands of Homes Damaged or Destroyed in Historic Southern US Flooding

Flooding along the Sabine River, the natural border between Texas and Louisiana, has forced hundreds of people to abandon their homes, prompting Texas Gov. Abbott to declare state of disaster for 17 eastern and southeastern counties.

In Louisiana, more than 6,000 structures have been damaged or destroyed by flooding across the state, forcing about 5,000 people to evacuate.

Flooding has also severely affected Mississippi and Arkansas over the past several days.

About 1,000 homes in Mississippi have been damaged or destroyed.

Rising floodwaters have also forced sections of interstates 10 and 59 to close, causing major disruptions throughout the region.

Another fast-moving fire near Willow, the Sockeye Fire, has destroyed at least 25 primary homes and as many as 20 secondary homes, according to Alaska Forestry Division spokesman Sam Harrel.

Alaska Division of Forestry’s latest update on the Sockeye Fire near Willow:

The fire is still estimated at 6,500 acres [the fire is now up to 8,500 acres] and fire managers flew the fire this morning to get a gauge on fire activity and how far the fire has spread since last night. Heavy smoke over the southern perimeter of the fire south of Willow Creek has made size up difficult and fire managers are working to produce an updated map of the fire. As of late last night, the head of the fire was burning just south of Willow Creek and did not show much movement overnight. The Matanuska-Susitna Borough has set up a call center for people seeking information about the fire. The number at the call center is (907) 861-8326. For a recorded update, call (907) 761-3700. Fire activity died down last night due to cooler temperatures and higher relative humidities but activity is expected to increase today as a result of a Red Flag Warning for strong winds, hot temperatures and low relative humidity. Winds are expected to be out of the north again today, which will likely push the fire south. Fire managers plan to utilize roads and natural barriers to help control the fire. They are focusing on holding the fire at the railroad tracks on the east side of the Parks Highway and the Susitna River serves as a natural barrier on the west side. Evacuation advisories remain in effect from Miles 63 to 78 and extend two miles to the east of the highway and to the Susitna River on the west. Anyone still in that evacuation zone should seriously consider leaving the area for the safety of themselves and firefighters. As of late last night, there were approximately 25 primary structures and 10-20 secondary structures destroyed by the fire north of Kashwitna Lake on the north end of the fire. The Matanuska-Susitna Borough has a team that is assessing structure damage today to get a clearer indication of how many homes and structures were lost. Eight smokejumpers were deployed to remote cabin sights for structure protection and more resources have been ordered from the Lower 48 and Canada and are enroute to the fire. That includes five Type 1 hotshot crews, five Type 2 crews, two air tankers, and multiple helicopters, including three Blackhawk helicopters from the Alaska Air National Guard.

Flooding in Texas leaves more than 1,300 homes damaged or destroyed

Flooding in Texas town of San Marcos [pop: ~ 55,000] has left more than 1,300 homes damaged or destroyed, prompting the Hays County Judge to issue a disaster declaration.

“Once they told me the extent of damage and potential damage, we declared it a disaster area,” Judge Dr. Bert Cobb was quoted as saying.

“The flow and height is double what [it] was when it was at its highest in 1929,” said San Marcos Emergency Management Commander, describing the Blanco River that flows through San Marcos, said a report.

[The river crested at more than 13m (43ft), about 10m above the flood stage, and 2.1m higher than the 1929 record.]

At least three people have been killed and several reported as missing in flash flooding and severe storms across the region, officials said late on Sunday.

A man was killed in the floods that inundated San Marcos, and two others lost their lives in Oklahoma.

Thousands of people have been evacuated across the region.

Earlier, State of Disaster declared was also declared in Caldwell County, Texas as San Marcos River threatened to inundate the area.

A State of Emergency was declared for 44 Oklahoma counties on Saturday.

Severe weather in Houston caused an apartment building to collapse, injuring at least two people and severely damaging 10 of the 41 units, said the Houston Fire Department.

More severe weather and flooding rains possible on Memorial Day

Widespread strong to severe storms will be possible again on Memorial Day from south Texas across the Plains into the Midwest. Isolated tornadoes, damaging winds and hail are all possible especially across much of Texas. In addition, moderate to heavy rainfall is forecast for parts of Texas, increasing the flash and river flooding concerns with an additional 1 to 2 inches of rain possible. [Source: NWS]

The Elk Fire resulted from several lightning fires which burned together on the night of August 8th. Fuels continue to be extremely dry and when combining with steep terrain, is creating plume dominated fire behavior. Areas concern are the small settlement of Prairie on the west side of the fire and the Pine/Featherville corridor on the east side. The southern perimeter follows the South Fork of the Boise River from Smith Creek to the end of Anderson Ranch Reservoir near Pine. The fire continues to move up the river corridor on the west side from Pine towards Featherville. Primary objective is to secure the fireline between all homes/subdivisions and the mountains to the west. Securing Prairie homes and ranches is a high priority. Ultimately the plan is to push the northern portion of the fire into the Trinity fire from last year.

The Elk Complex Fire. Lead plane marks the spot. Credit: Boise National Forest/ U.S. Forest Service.

The Boise National Forest has expanded a large area closure that is described specifically in the CLOSURES portion of this site. A map of the closure area can be found under MAPS. The Elmore County Sheriff’s Office has a mandatory evacuation in effect from Hwy 20 to the Johnson Creek Bridge south of Featherville. [Inciweb]

There was no reported change in acreage today due to smoke and thunderstorms in the area making aerial mapping unattainable. Fire behavior today remained active, running through grass and sage while backing across timbered areas. Some single tree torching and short range spotting was observed. The fire is slowly progressing north, towards Blacks Creek. [Inciweb]

Gov. Otter issues a state disaster declaration in Elmore County

The Elk and Pony Complex fires have grown explosively, covering at least 240,000 acres, forcing mass evacuations and large area closures.

In addition to large numbers of mandatory evacuations, the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office has urged other residents to leave the area to ensure the fire crews can focus on suppressing the fire, said a report.

The two fire complexes have destroyed or damaged dozens of structures, but the exact toll is not yet known/released.

More than two dozen wildfires in Idaho have scorched at least 400,000 acres since mid-July 2013.

The Elk Fire resulted from several lightning strike fires which burned together on the night of August 8th. Fuels continue to be extremely dry and when combining with steep terrain, is creating plume dominated fire behavior. Areas concern are the small settlement of Prairie on the west side of the fire and the Pine/Featherville corridor on the east side. The southern perimeter follows the South Fork of the Boise River from Smith Creek to the end of Anderson Ranch Reservoir near Pine. The fire continues to move up the river corridor on the west side from Pine towards Featherville. Primary objective is to secure the fireline between all homes/subdivisions and the mountains to the west. Securing Prairie homes and ranches is a high priority. Ultimately the plan is to push the northern portion of the fire into the Trinity fire from last year.

The Boise National Forest has expanded a large area closure that is described specifically in the CLOSURES portion of this site. A map of the closure area can be found under MAPS. The Elmore County Sheriff’s Office has a mandatory evacuation in effect from Hwy 20 to the Johnson Creek Bridge south of Featherville.

Stage I fire restrictions remain in effect including no campfires outside of an agency designated recreation site until further notice. For more information, please visit www.blm.gov/id. [Inciweb]

The Pony Complex Fire

The Pony Complex fire, about 12 miles Northeast of Mountain Home, ID, has consumed at least 143,900 acres with about 30 percent containment.

The Mile Marker 111 Fire and the Mudd Fire burned together on Sunday and areas of the combined fire are still exhibiting high resistance to control. The fire is continuing to push to the south and east threatening the Highway 20 corridor.

Numerous road closures and an area closure remain in effect.

Burnout operations were conducted along Cow Creek Road in attempt to mitigate the fire from crossing Blacks Creek.

State Of Emergency Declared for East Russia, Thousands Evacuated

Russian authorities have declared states of emergency for five populated regions in Russia’s far east following severe flooding.

“An emergency situation has been declared in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), the Khabarovsk and Primorye territories, the Amur region and the Jewish autonomous region, and a federal level of response has been introduced there,” according to a statement posted on the Emergency Situations Ministry website.

The decision was made “in view of the current hydrological situation in the Far Eastern Federal District and an adverse weather forecast,” it said.

“For preemptive purposes, 2,285 people, including 940 children, were evacuated beforehand from populated areas, children’s recreational institutions, and Federal Corrections Service’s correctional institutions. As many as 1,169 people, including 338 children, have been evacuated right from flooded homes. A system of the people’s vital support has been arranged.”

“According to earlier reports, the flood situation aggravated in the Amur region due to lengthy rains and the dumping of water from the Zeisk Hydroelectric Power Plant, which have affected dozens of populated areas. A state of emergency has been put in place in the region,” said a report.

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Disaster Declared in Raton, NM

Torrential rains and flooding in Raton have caused substantial damage to the infrastructure, prompting the authorities to declare the city a disaster area, said a report.

In July, Governor Martinez declared a statewide emergency following the damage caused by severe storms and flooding.

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State of emergency declared in Miller County, Missouri

Officials have declared a State of Emergency in Miller county due to serious flooding concerns, said a report.

Ameren crews are preparing to open the Bagnell Dam floodgates, which could result the river level to rise 3 feet. “That’s why Miller County Sheriff’s Deputies are notifying people living in low lying areas. There are no mandatory evacuations, but they do want people to be aware of the rising waters.”

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Outagamie County, Wis., Declares a State of Emergency

Outagamie County has declared an emergency, after severe damage caused by two tornadoes, an F1 and F2, and a line of powerful storms in which they were hidden, said a report.

Grand Chute, Wis., has declared a State of Emergency following damage from storms, tornadoes

“The storm caused damaged in Fremont, New London, Waupaca and Weyauwega, knocking down numerous trees and power lines. In New London, Trinity Lutheran Church on Beckert Road was severely damaged. Power is out near the Waupaca airport and areas to the east,” according to the Waupaca County Sheriff’s Department.

State of Emergency declared in Hortonville

The Village of Hortonville in Outagamie County, Wis., has declared a State of Emergency following significant damage to property and infrastructure and a blanket power outage caused by storms that hit Wisconsin early Wednesday morning.

The storms knocked out power to tens of thousands of homes in the region.

The authorities have also issued a curfew, effective Wednesday 10:00 p.m.

Dozens of counties across 5 States designated as agricultural disaster areas

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 30 counties across five states as agricultural disaster area due to damages and losses caused by various climatic and extreme weather disasters including the ongoing drought, frost, excessive rain and a tornado. [Several counties received two separate disaster designations.]

Drought Disaster Declared in Oregon

USDA has designated 8 counties in Oregon as agricultural disaster areas due to damages and losses caused by the ongoing drought.

Reno County declares local disaster

Reno County has declared a local disaster due to flooding in Hutchinson and deluged roads around the county, said a report.

Meantime, towns across central Kansas have been evacuating residents as torrential rains triggered widespread flooding across the region, the report quoted officials as saying.

“Reno County officials were urging people not to play in the floodwaters because septic and sewer systems have backed up and deposited waste materials into the water. There has also been “considerable” amount of run-off from fields that have had chemicals applied to crops. Those chemicals are now in the rivers, creeks and floodwaters,” the report said.

Flooding was also reported elsewhere in central Kansas, especially in Barton and Rice counties.

Large swathes of central, eastern and southeastern Kansas were under Flood Warnings, Flood Watches, or Flash Flood Watches, as of posting.

Weather Hazards Map for August 5, 2013 @ 15:39 UTC. Source: NWS

Other Evacuation News

Train Derails in Lawtell, La., 100 Homes Evacuated: More than 100 homes remained evacuated Monday as emergency teams worked to clean up the site of a Union Pacific train derailment near Lawtell, about 60 miles west of Baton Rouge, said a report.

An evacuation order was in effect for homes and businesses within a 1-mile radius of the derailment, as of posting.

The train was carrying both the lethal sodium hydroxide, and the extremely flammable vinyl chloride. At least one of the railcars was leaking sodium hydroxide, said a company spokesperson.

UPDATE 6: Powerful Earthquake Kills up to 200, injures many thousands in China

A 7.0-magnitude earthquake hit Lushan county of Ya’an city in southwest China’s Sichuan Province at 8:02 a.m. Saturday Beijing Time [00:02 UTC,] killing about 200 people and injuring many thousands more.

The shallow quake occurred at a depth of 13km [centered at 30.284°N, 102.956°E, according to USGS] said the provincial seismological bureau.

Displaced residents rest next to ruins of houses after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake in Longmen Township, Lushan County, Ya’an City of southwest China’s Sichuan Province, April 20, 2013. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoli). More images …

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OTHER GLOBAL DISASTERS/ SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

Missouri declares a state of emergency after rainstorm triggers worst flooding in century

Governor Nixon has declared a state of emergency in response to heavy rain and flash flooding in much of the state.

Many portions of NE Missouri received up to 5 inches of rain this week, causing streams and rivers to rise above flood stage, the National Weather Service (NWS) reported.

Several Missouri counties have independently declared states of emergency issuing mandatory evacuation orders for hundreds of residents.

Latest Disaster Declarations

“Illinois has seen an incredible level of devastation and reports indicate that conditions will get worse in the coming days. ” Quinn said.

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Lee County in Iowa Declares a State of Emergency amid Flooding

Lee County, Iowa, has declared a state of emergency due to recent heavy rains that have caused the Mississippi, Des Moines and Skunk rivers to begin rising and the expected flooding that will cause severe damage to public and private property, critical infrastructure, disruption of utility service, including but not limited to power generation, water and waste-water, and endangerment of health and safety of the citizens of Lee County within the disaster area.” The Lee County Board of Supervisors have declared.

The Mississippi River’s level at Keokuk rose to 21.06 feet on Friday, more than 5 feet above the flood stage, and is expected to crest at 22.8 feet on Saturday, said a report.

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Canada: Ontario Towns Declare States of Emergency

The towns of Bracebridge and Huntsville in Central Ontario, Canada have declared states of emergency, said a report.

Heavy rain in Bracebridge has damaged infrastructure and evacuations in low lying areas could follow, the report said.

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China confirms 96 cases of H7N9 infections, 18 fatalities

Chinese health officials confirmed 5 new cases of human H7N9 avian influenza—one in Shanghai, one in Jiangsu and three in Zhejiang—raising the total number of reported cases to 96, with 18 fatalities, Xinhua reported.

“A total of 33 cases, including 11 that have ended in death, have been reported in Shanghai. Twenty-three cases, including three deaths, have been reported in Jiangsu Province, and 33 cases, including three deaths, in Zhejiang Province. Anhui Province has reported three cases, with one ending in death. Beijing has reported one case and three have been reported in Henan Province,” said the report.

At least 69 of the patients are receiving treatment in designated hospitals.

A military vehicle carrying 17 soldiers to the quake-hit area in Sichuan plunged 20 meters off a cliff on Saturday, killing at least one soldier and injuring 7 others, a report quoting military sources said.

“Red alert level for economic losses. Extensive damage is probable and the disaster is likely widespread. Estimated economic losses are less than 1% of GDP of China. Past events with this alert level have required a national or international level response. Orange alert level for shaking-related fatalities. Significant casualties are likely.” —USGS/EHP

The epicenter was close to that of the massive quake [2008 Sichuan earthquake, 31.021°N,103.367°E] that killed 70,000 people [figure quoted by Chinese government,] and left more than 5 million people homeless.

Sichuan is one of China’s four major natural-gas-producing provinces, and accounts for 14 percent of the country’s total output, said a report.

New York counties designated multiple Agricultural Disaster Areas

USDA has issued four separate disaster declarations for the state of New York because of the crop damage caused by drought and excessive heat, excessive heat and rain, excessive rain, flooding, flash flooding, hail, high winds, below normal temperatures and tornadoes, hurricanes (Irene) and severe storms (TS Lee).

Disaster Calendar 2011 – November 22

[November 22, 2011] Mass die-offs resulting from human impact and the planetary response to the anthropogenic assault could occur by early 2016. SYMBOLIC COUNTDOWN: 1,576 Days Left to the ‘Worst Day’ in Human History

New York, USA. Disaster Declaration No 1: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 35 counties in New York as agricultural disaster areas due to the damage caused by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee that occurred Aug. 27 – Sept. 15, 2011.

New York, USA. Disaster Declaration No 2: USDA has designated 34 counties in New York as agricultural disaster areas due to the combined effects of excessive rain, flooding, flash flooding, hail, high winds, below normal temperatures and tornadoes that occurred April 1 – Aug. 30, 2011.

The following counties in the bordering states of New Jersey and Pennsylvania were also declared disaster areas because they’re contiguous.

New Jersey: Bergen, Passaic and Sussex counties.

Pennsylvania: Pike County.

New York, USA. Disaster Declaration No 3: Six New York counties have been designated as a Agricultural Natural Disaster Areas by USDA due to excessive heat and rain that occurred July 10 – Aug. 25, 2011.

The following counties in the bordering states of New Jersey and Pennsylvania were also declared as disaster areas because they are contiguous.

New Jersey: Passaic and Sussex counties.

Pennsylvania: Pike County.

New York, USA. Disaster Declaration No 4: USDA has declared 12 counties in New York as agricultural disaster areas due to losses caused by drought and excessive heat that occurred July 1 – Aug. 31, 2011.

The other six counties declared as contiguous disaster areas are Allegany, Cayuga, Chemung, Livingston, Monroe and Tompkins.

The following counties in the bordering state of Pennsylvania were also added to the disaster declaration because they are contiguous.

Pennsylvania: Potter and Tioga counties.

Other Disasters

Minnesota, USA. USDA has designated 15 counties in Minnesota as Agricultural Natural Disaster Areas due to losses caused by the combined effects of excessive rain, excessive heat, high winds, tornadoes and an early fall frost that occurred April 1 – Sept. 15, 2011.

The counties designated as Primary Disaster areas are Kandiyohi, Lincoln and McLeod.